MANILA, Philippines — The country‘s political and economic stability will be ensured if voters carry the presidential tandem of Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III to victory, senatorial aspirant Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol said over the weekend.
Piñol, President Duterte‘s former agriculture chief, vouched for Lacson and Sotto as incorruptible candidates who can provide certainty in policies, which investors and the economic sector require to make long-term plans.
Addressing the tandem’s miting de avance in Carmona, Cavite last Saturday, he urged Filipinos not to waste the opportunity to be led by a good and honest leader in Lacson, who can change the direction of the country.
If he doesn‘t win as our president, the Filipino people will be missing a golden opportunity of changing the future of this country, Piñol said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Piñol cited how Lacson and Sotto support his proposed agricultural policies such as increasing food production, establishing food terminals nationwide, and procuring as much as half of farmers’ produce.
He said that under such leadership, the Philippines would be like Israel, which considers food security as important as national security.
“I pray that on May 9 the light of wisdom will shine upon us and we will realize that to change this country, we have to elect a rightful leader and that leader is Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson,” he said.
He also took the opportunity to thank everyone, particularly the farmers and fisheries sectors nationwide, who keep supporting his senatorial bid.
Piñol‘s campaign had him distributing 600,000 bamboo propagules instead of scattering tarpaulins of his face nationwide, saying the bamboo seedlings had spread would well outlive all other campaign materials.
Also in attendance at the miting de avance were senatorial candidates Dr. Minguita Padilla, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar, and former senators Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Gringo Honasan.
Meanwhile, Sotto said that after voting this morning in Quezon City, he is going straight to work in the Senate.
As Senate president, he must be present to receive the certificates of canvass (COCs) and election returns (ERs) starting tonight after polling precincts close at 7 p.m.
“After voting on Monday, I’ll go to work. I’m the Senate President so they (Comelec) have to turn over to me… certain documents in the afternoon. So it’s still work for me,” Sotto told reporters in Calauan, Laguna on Saturday.
He said he will also be meeting with House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco in connection with their joint canvassing of votes for president and vice president in a joint session of Congress.
Under the Constitution, the Senate is tasked to receive the COCs and ERs for president and vice president. Senate Secretary Myra Villarica earlier said the reception of the documents will be livestreamed for transparency.
Sotto’s presidential running mate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said after voting in Imus, Cavite, he would catch up on sleep, something that he had little during the grueling 90-day campaign.